Vacuum cleaner



VACUUM CLEANER Filed Nov. 26, 1940 INVENTOR MQW/TM Patented Nov. 17, 1942 VACUUM CLEANER Dewey M. Dow and Frederick H. Burmeister, Toledo, Ohio, assignors to Air-Way Electric Ap- .pliance Corporation, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application November 26, 1940, Serial No. 367,212

12 Claims.

This invention relates to vacuum cleaners and in its more specific aspects is directed to a suction nozzle so constructed and arranged that different surface working tools may be applied thereto and which nozzle by itself is adapted to function as a dusting tool.

The object of this invention is to construct a nozzle device for a suction cleaner adapted to have interchangeable surface working tools applied thereto.

Another object of the invention is to construct a holder for interchangeable surface working tools and which holder itself is capable of operating as a dusting tool.

A further object of the invention is to provide a latching mechanism in a dusting tool which is adapted to hold another surface working tool in engagement thereon and simultaneously seal the opening in which it operates against abnormal leakage and thereby increase the cleaning eiliciency at the nozzle mouth.

A still further object of the invention is to make available to the operator of the cleaner a set of tools which will enable her to do the samel amount of work that ordinarily requires a larger number of tools and thereby not only reduce the cost of manufacture but the ultimate cost to the operator.

l Another object ofthe invention is to provide a pair of attachable suction tools that may be easily attached and detached. A further object is to provide a suction cleaning tool assembly including a pair of separable tools secured together by latch mechanism that does not project materially beyond the wall surface of the tool, whereby the danger of catching againstpbstructions is eliminated, and a smooth symmetrical appearance is provided in the assembly.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear to those skilled in the arts to which this invention appertains which taken in connection with the accompanying drawing sets forth a preferred embodiment of the invention but such embodlment is illustrative only of the invention and is not to be construed as a limitation of the invention which is limited only by the appended claims and any and all modifications, alterations and variations of structure coming within the spirit and scope thereof are deemed to be included herein.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows a plan view of vacuum cleaner nozzle incorporating the invention.

Fig. 2 is a section view of the nozzle taken substantially along the line 2 2 of`Fig. 1.

Fia'. 3 is a fragmentary section `view of Fig. l taken substantially along line 3 3 thereof.

Fig. 4 is section view taken substantially alongV the line 4 4 of Fig. 3 to show details thereof. 5 The instant invention is embodied in a device /originating in a surface engaging tool I which in the specific illustration happens to be a floor polishing device. The tool I has a plate 2 provided with a'plurality of apertures 3 and secured to the lower side oi.' the plate 2 is a brous polishing material t of felt having apertures 4a therein that are coaxial with the apertures 3 in plate 2. Mounted on the upper side of the plate 2 is a suction chamber `5 that provides a passageway for an air stream leading ultimately to a suction creating unit (not shown) connected thereto. The suction chamber 5 contracts upwardly and generally axially toward the center of the tool into an outlet dened by the lips 6, 6 of housing 5. .No particular method of securing theA housing 5 to the plate 2 is shown but it is preferably welded to present a smoother appearance and a bumper 1 of mar proof rubber or equivalent material completely surrounds the tool to cover any uneven edges of the housing to prevent marring of furniture. interior trim etc., which the tool might contact while in use. u

The second part of the nozzle assembly comprises a tool B that originates in a mouth 9 and terminates in a neck portion Illa to which a hose or other air conducting medium may `be attached. 'I'he walls of the tool 8 forming the mouth 9 are exteriorly provided with a lpair of spaced projections III-I forming a slideway therebetween. The lips 6 of tool I fit into the slideways Just described and serve to hold the two parts together. When the tool I is detached from the tool 8 the latter is particularly adapted to be used as a dusting tool.

Means have been provided to securely latch the tools I and 8 together and to this end housing 5 has arranged therein a depressible latch Il which is pivotally connected to the housing l5 by means of a spring hinge I2 which has its one end secured to the housing 5 and the other end secured to latch Il, the particular mode of securing being by welding although any other well known fastening means may be employed, if desired. The latch is so constructed as to underlie a part of the housing as shown in Fig. 4, and thereby prevent some of the leakage that might ordinarily take place. By the use of accurate machining and packing etc., a more perfect fit could be obtained between latch II and housing 5, all 55 of which are contemplated within the scope of "the invention although not speciiically shown.

The latch II serves principally to permit separation of tool I from tool 8 and also to lock the two together when in use. It will be noted in Fig. 3 that when latch Il is depressed that tool 8 may be separated from tool I by sliding the two relatively longitudinally of each other. By the same token the two may be brought together. When the two have been brought into engagement, latch II will illl the aperture in housing and its upper and forward wall as observed in Fig. 3 will bear against the end of nozzle mouth 9 o! tool 8. The opposite end of the nozzle mouth may have its walls shaped similarly as the side walls thereof to form a close end ilt.

As previousLv pointed out the tool 8 may be used by itself as a dusting tool by reason or the construction employed and may have a tool I secured thereto for any desired floor operation. The instant tool I is a iioor polishing implement but such other tools as floor mops, carpet and rug cleaning tools and in fact any other suction operated tool may he employed in substitution of the one shown.

The invention has the advantage that it makes it possible to have a fairly loose t between the lips of the suction chamber 5 and the slideways of the tool I. The latch is easily depressed'.v Thus it is a very easy operation to attach and detach the tools. In prior devices oi a generally similar nature. where frictional engagement between the slidable members is relied on for securing the tools in assembled relation, much ditliculty arises from swelling of the slideways or accumulation of grime therein.

The above is considered to so fully reveal the gist of the invention that any one studying the principles thereof may readily apply same to his own problems. That which is considered new. novel and useful and which is sought to be protected by Letters Patent oi the United States is as follows: 4

l. In a vacuum cleaning assembly, a suction tool having a suction passage terminating in a mouth, an attachment tool attachable to such suction tool, said attachment tool being adapted. when thus attached, to form an extension of said suction passage, and a latch element forming a portion of the wall of said extension, adapted to coact with one end of the first mentioned tool for latching said tools together, said latch element including a wall portion arranged to coop- 'erate with the wall of said tool in defining the passage therein,

2. In a vacuum cleaning assembly, a tool having a suction passage terminating in substantially parallel regions defining a mouth, an attachment tool having means adapted to coact with said regions for permitting attachment thereto by relative sliding movement between said tools, said attachment tool being adapted, when thus attached' to form an extension of said suction passage, and a latch element adapted to coact with one end of the rst mentioned tool for latching said tools together, said latch element including a wall portion arranged to cooperate with the wall of said tool in defining the passage therein.

3. In a vacuum cleaning assembly, a suction tool having a suction passage terminating in an elongated mouth, an attachment tool having a wall deiining a passage adapted to form an extension of said suction passage, and having au elongated outlet adapted to communicate with said mouth, said tools being formed with interfltting slide means along said mouth and outlet whereby they may be attached together/by' applying one end of one oi the tools to one extremity of the slide means of the other tool and sliding the tools longitudinally relative to each other, and with means to arrest said sliding movement at a point where said tools are in assembled relation with said mouth and outlet in proper communication, and a latch element carried by said other tool and arranged to form an approach. to the said one extremity of the slide means of said other tool, to assist in guiding said one end oi said one wol into interconnection with the slide means oi said other tool, said latch element being adapted to yield under the pressure of said one end of said one tool to permit said interconnection and, when said tools are in assembled relation, to move to a position coacting with the other end of said one tool for obstructing reverse slidsuction tool passage and having end portions I ilaring outwardly from opposite ends ot said outlet, said tools being formed with interiitting 'slide means along said mouth and outlet whereby they may be attached together .by applying one end of said suction tool to one extremity of the slide means of the attachment tool and sliding the tools longitudinally relative to each other, and with means to arrest said sliding movement at a point where said tools are in assembled relation with said mouth and outlet in proper communication, one of said end portions o1' the wall of said attachment tool being arranged to form an approach to said slide means extremity adapted to assist in guiding said end of the suction tool toward said slide means extremity in the establishing of connection between the respective slide means, and a latch carried by one of the tools and adapted to cooperate with the other tool in the assembled position of the tools for preventing separation of the tools, said latch being arranged to be engaged by said other tool Just prior to the establishing of connection between therrespective slide means and to yield so as to permit said connection to be established.

5. A vacuum cleaning assembly as defined in claim 3, wherein said latch deiines one end of said outlet.

6. A vacuum cleaning assemblyA as deiined in claim 4, wherein said latch includes a wall portion arranged to form a continuation of one of the slide means of the suction tool and sliding the tools longitudinally relativeto each other, and with means to arrest said sliding movement at a point where said tools are in assembled re lation with said mouth and outlet in proper communication, and a latch carried by said attachmenttool and arranged to be engaged by said one end of the suction tool and to yield so as .to permit interconnection of the tools, and, when said sliding movement is arrested, to return to a position coacting with the other end of said suction' tool for latching the tools together, said attachment tool having, at said one end of its slide means, an aperture forming a continuation of said outlet, and said latch forming a closure for said outlet when in latching position. l

8. The combination deiined in claim 7, wherein said latch has side portions coacting with the wall portionsdening the sides of said aperture, and an end portion coacting with said other end of the suction tool to close said aperture and to eifectlatching.

9. The combination dened in claim 7, wherein said latch comprises a closure for said aperture having side portions adapted to engage inner surfaces of the wall portions deilning the sides of said aperture and an end portion adapted to engage said other end of the suction tool for closing said aperture and for eil'ecting latching, and means connecting said closure to the chamber wall and yieldingly biasing it outwardly toward latching, aperture closing position.

10. The combination dened in claim 7, wherein said latch comprises a closure for said aperture having side portions adapted to engage inner surfaces of the wall portions defining the sides of said aperture and an end portion adapted to engage said other end of the suction tool for closing said aperture and for effecting latching, a leaf spring attached at one end to the inner surface of the attachment tool wall and at its other end to the inner surface of the closure, said spring serving to hinge the closure to the attachment tool wall and to yieldingly support the closure, biasing the same outwardly toward latching, aperture closure position.

11. The combination defined in claim 7wherein said latch comprises a closure for saidaperber wall and yieldingly biasing it outwardly to-v ward latching, aperture closing position, said side regions being offset to permit the exposed outer surface of the closure to lie flush with the outer surface of the chamber wall.

12. In a vacuum cleaning assembly, a suction tool having a suction passage terminating in an elongatedmouth, an attachment tool having an elongated outlet adapted to communicate with said mouth and including a wall deiining a suction passage adapted to form an extension of said suction tool passage, said tools being formed with interltting slide means along said mouth and outlet whereby they may be attached together by applying one end of said suction tool to one extremity of the slide means of the attachment tool and sliding the tools longitudinally relative to each other, and with means to arrest said sliding movement at a point where said tools are in assembled relation with said mouth and outlet in proper communication, and a latch carried by said attachment tool, arranged to normally obstruct the said one extremity of the slide means thereof, adapted to be engaged by said one end of the suction tool prior to the establishing of connection between said slide means and to yield so as to permit said connection to be established, and, when said sliding movement is arrested, to return to a position coacting with the other end of said suction tool for positively latching the tools together, said latch being adapted to be engaged by the oper ator for unlatching the tools. Y

DEWEY M. DOW. FREDERICK H. BURMEISTER. 

